Clinical thermometer shake-down



Oct. 19, 1937. o. P. SALA CLINICAL THERMOMETER SHAKE-DOWN Filed May 26, 1956 0. R 562/? INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for lowering the column of mercury in a clinical thermometer and comprises among its objects the provision of simple, inexpensive means for accomplishing this desired end; the provision of means which will be efficient for the purpose intended; the provision of means which will be easy to use and which will be very efiective for the purpose indicated; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein.

In' the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of one form of construction embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 represents a transverse section taken approximately along the plane indicated by the line 2-2, Fig. l.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawing for a more complete description of this invention. The clinical thermometer is indicated at I by dot and dash lines and is shown in Fig. '1 as being enclosed in a casing 2 which may be any one of various forms. In the form illustrated, the casing is shown as provided with a projecting neck which connects a finger piece to the body 2. This neck is adjacent to the open end of the body. These casings are commonly provided with a pad of cotton 3 in theclosed end upon which the thermometer rests. This is common practice and needs no further mention.

The form of this device shown in the drawing comprises a tube 2, the wall of which may be thick enough to make the device sufficiently rigid to. protect the enclosed thermometer. If desired, this tube may be made with graduated rigidity, being most rigid at its closed end and less rigid as it approaches the opposite end. The finger piece 8 of this form of construction is integrally connected to the body of the thermometer holding unit by the neck 1. A bead 9 is formed around the edge of the finger piece 8 to furnish a more secure grip for the fingers when using the device.

The body is provided with a thin Walled extension having ribs 5 extending therearound and leaving between them thin walled portions 4 which may be collapsed to cause protrusion of the end of the thermometer through the opening 6. When it is desired to return the thermometer to its casing or holding member, the bulb end is put against the opening 6 and then the thermometer is shoved in, causing expansion of the opening to permit the thermometer to assume its place within the structure. Since the portions 4 are thin, they will collapse as the fingers engage the rings or ribs 5 which are pushed toward the body of the device. As the rings are pushed together, when removing 6 the thermometer, the end of the thermometer protrudes through the opening 6 and it may then be taken hold of and withdrawn from its holder.

To operate the device of Fig. 1, the finger piece 8 is held between the thumb and finger, and the 10 hand is oscillated with a motion which has a tendency to cause rotation of the thermometer about the axis of the neck 'i, thus producing a centrifugal force which makes the mercury slide down in the tube.

This device tends to hold the thermometer in a pocket and keep it from falling out, thus doing away with the necessity for a clip.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims. 5

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A thermometer shake-down comprising a tubular body of yielding resilient material closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end for the reception of a thermometer, said body having an integrally formed handle of yielding resilient material, the open end of the body being thin walled to be easily distended and flexed and being provided with ribs to assist in insertion and removal of the thermometer.

2. A thermometer shake-down comprising a tubular body of yielding resilient material closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end for the reception of a thermometer, said body having an'integrally formed handle of yielding resilient material located adjacent the open end, the open end of the body being thin walled 40 to be easily distended and flexed and being provided with ribs to assist in insertion and removal of the thermometer.

3. A thermometer shake-down comprising a tubular body of yielding resilient material closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end for the reception of a thermometer, said body having an integrally formed handle of yielding resilient material, the open end of the body being thin walled to be easily distended and flexed.

4. A thermometer shake-down comprising a tubular body of yielding resilient material closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end for the reception of a thermometer, said body having an integrally formed handle of yielding resilient material, the open end of the body being thin walled to be easily distended and flexed, the body of the handle being disc-shaped and. provided around its periphery with a rib.

5. A thermometer shake-down comprising a tubular body of yielding resilient material closed at one end and having an opening'at the opposite end for the reception of a thermometer, said body having an integrally formed handle of yielding resilient material. 7

ONO P. SALA; 

